bacterial vaginosis

noun

: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of excessive amounts of some bacteria (especially Gardnerella vaginalis)

called also nonspecific vaginitis

Examples of bacterial vaginosis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If left untreated, bacterial vaginosis can progress to pelvic inflammatory disease and may increase the risk of preterm labor. —Wendy Wisner, Health, 31 Oct. 2024

Discharge that develops because of bacterial vaginosis can have the following characteristics:89 Thin Watery Gray Green Have a fishy odor Bacterial vaginosis discharge is not typically white. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 2 June 2025

The 'silent illness' goes undiagnosed for decades Male partner treatment for bacterial vaginosis is a ‘huge breakthrough’ At Wisp, demand for the BV treatment grows at high rates year-over-year. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2025

How antibiotics can affect your gut bacteria Antibiotics are medications prescribed to treat many different types of bacterial infections, like sinus infections, strep throat, urinary tract infections (UTIs), pelvic infections, and bacterial vaginosis (BV). —Beth Krietsch, SELF, 7 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bacterial vaginosis

• agranulocytosis
• antituberculosis
• arteriosclerosis
• neurofibromatosis
• acanthosis
• acidosis
• alkalosis
• amaurosis
• ankylosis
• asbestosis
• brucellosis
• cyanosis

Medical Definition

bacterial vaginosis

noun

bacterial vag·​i·​no·​sis -ˌvaj-ə-ˈnō-səs 

: vaginitis that is marked by a grayish vaginal discharge usually of foul odor and that is associated with the presence of a bacterium especially of the genus Gardnerella (G. vaginalis synonym Haemophilus vaginalis)

—abbreviation BV

called also nonspecific vaginitis